Back then, Microsoft PowerPoint (PP) was the indisputable software for making presentations. Since 1990 this program has helped users present an idea, a strong story, a plan, audio, etc. With its great set of tools and different options to use as a template, PP lets you focus on the shared content.

However, in this dynamic market, nothing is forever. And so, in 2009, a new competitor – Prezi – appeared. With a lighter proposal, better backgrounds, and smoother transitions, this webpage program brings a new way to make presentations. But is it the best option?

This article covers a comparison between PowerPoint and Prezi, including advantages and disadvantages. Here you can finally know which presentation software works best for you.

PowerPoint is the presentation software available in the Microsoft Office suite. It was developed in 1987 and is currently one of the most used tools in the presentation software market.

This program is used by both businesses and individuals to change how information is delivered.

It consists of slides that you can customize according to what you need. For example, you can add:

• Texts.
• Forms.
• Videos.
• Images.
• Shapes.

With all those materials, you can create standard presentations filled with useful information for your audience. If you are creative enough, you can even develop multiple paths that reach a final point, but you need experience connecting slides and creating hyperlinks.

However, due to the software’s complexity, many users have opted for other programs that are easier to use and with some needed integrated tools. One of them is Prezi.

Despite that, with the latest upgrade, PowerPoint has brought important changes that can make it one of the best presentation software again. 

Some of them include a refreshed look with a more intuitive interface, co-authoring, cloud storage, and the possibility of making a presentation online.

The latest upgrade of PowerPoint presentation software brings new features and attributes to this program.

Its new attributes are aimed at collaboration. This means you’ll work with several colleagues in a working environment using a single document. It’s an innovative feature that we have already seen in other programs like Google Sheets.

Microsoft has implemented it in the new Office suite and most of its programs.

The Co-authoring feature takes your presentation skills to the next level. Back before the 2021 edition, you were only able to work alone on traditional slides.

Now, the situation has changed.

Thanks to the synchronization between OneDrive, Microsoft 365, and Microsoft Office, you can now upload your files to the cloud and share them with colleagues. You can work together in real-time, follow a linear story and optimize your presentation to give it a few great benefits.

Of course, you need an internet connection and a Microsoft 365 account.

This attribute goes from the hand of the above.

In PowerPoint 2021, you can see who is in your presentation and locate them. You can use this to:

• Avoid bad practices.
• Ask for help to complete a specific slide.
• Ask for design suggestions.
• Prevent people from changing the content.

Once you know that, you can also block their access. You can invite them via email if you don’t want them to enter your document without permission.

The Record Slide Show allows you to make a memorable visual of your presentation.

You can use the control to record, pause, resume the conversation and make an interactive presentation. The average business presenter doesn’t know all the resources of PP. Because of that, they don’t have control over the slides.

Now with PowerPoint 2021, you can easily manage the presentation, always following its linear format.

You can use the Replay and Rewind animations to modify the drawing effects from your presentation.

Each manually drawn animation has its own timing that you can edit and match with the rest of the slide’s content.

This Presentation program also has a new Draw Tab. It has different drawing tools for you to let your imagination flow.

You can change drawing tools, colors, shapes, sizes, and more. There are also new additions such as the Point Eraser, Ruler, and Lasso.

PowerPoint is a great tool for making an exciting presentation. However, just like any other software, it has advantages and disadvantages.

We have prepared a table with the benefits and drawbacks of using a linear presentation tool such as PowerPoint.

As you can see, creating standard presentations can be quite easy, especially using the same integrated tools over and over.

However, if you want to get really good at using PowerPoint and enjoy its unique features, you must learn to:

• Use unique visuals.
• Learn the best practices to create a linear storyline.
• Highlight the important points of each slide.
• Prepare a particular topic and use different ideas from it.

Prezi is a freemium web-based presentation tool. Unlike PowerPoint, Prezi presentations use the same technology as Google Sheets.

Instead of a white page, you have a blank canvas where you can prepare non-linear presentations. This means that Prezi users have unlimited space to let their imagination flow and create dazzling presentations with the zoom function that you can’t use with PowerPoint.

However, Prezi also has a premium mode, which gives you access to special features – for example, premium Prezi templates for your non-linear presentations.

If something is undeniable, it is Prezi's dynamism compared to other software.

Like PowerPoint, Prezi has compelling features you should consider before using it.

This software has more versatility and modern functionalities than other programs, which makes it an interesting option for all those users that don’t have time to learn how to use PowerPoint.

With Prezi, you have an almost endless zoom feature that you can use to develop your presentation. This software gives you a unique perspective when creating non-linear presentations in sections.

You can go back and forward between the slides and write useful content to express the story presented in clever ways.

In comparison with PowerPoint, Prezi is user-friendly. Since it has basic features that you can use – at least in the free version – you can make your way through the app if you don’t have previous knowledge of it.

What also helps is that you can also seamlessly integrate images, graphs, audio, and videos. You can choose the angles to insert them. You can also use:

• Rotations.
• Resizing.
• Zooming.

The best thing about Prezi – the main difference with PowerPoint – is that you can easily adapt it.

Since it has widespread use, you can create the best presentation according to your expertise. Whether you are proficient or new in PowerPoint or Prezi, you can use it seamlessly.

Just like PowerPoint, it’s a great option for non-designers.

Prezi lets you download the presentation in a fairly simple process.

This way, you can save your file in Google Drive, an external hard drive, or on a USB  and take it with you. This works great with huge files as well.

Another important point to consider is that Prezi can connect with other platforms such as Slack, Zoom, etc. This way, you can share presentations on your computer and ask for suggestions from co-workers.

If you are just a designer, you can also send it to the presenters to get feedback.

Just like PowerPoint presentations, there are clear benefits and drawbacks when using Prezi.

This is not bad software, as a light cloud-based program, you can achieve many things with it, thanks to smoother animations and innovative paths.

However, not everything is great. You have limited options when using the free version, and the paid edition is more expensive than Microsoft 365.

If you’re trying to choose software for your next presentation, it may be difficult to decide whether to select PowerPoint or Prezi.

The two programs are incredible for creating presentations, so whichever tool you settle for will work for you. However, if you don’t know which software to use, you should go back to the biggest differences mentioned in the sections above.

Now, based on our experience, the software you should go for is PowerPoint. Why?

With this program, you can have a more solid option than the newer flash-based application that is Prezi. You can’t use it online – unless you have Microsoft 365 – but it gives you these benefits:

• A lifetime creative license to use the software and the entire Microsoft Office suite – including Excel.
• Charts and graphics templates that you can use to explain data.
• Several fonts are available to customize your slides.
• Once you learn how to use it, you become a professional presenter.
• Possibility ot add pictures and other multimedia content to your presentation.
• It has a community-driven website where you can learn. Education is part of the process to be suited to use the software.
• You can start and finish a presentation from point A to point B.

Be aware that if you want to use PowerPoint, you need to buy a serial code to activate the software. Below we tell you how you can get one at a low price.

If you've decided to get PowerPoint, you must purchase a software license first. For this, you can:

1. Get the license from the official website at full price. This will cost you over $150.

2. Go to a third-party website like RoyalCDKeys. Here you can get the Microsoft Office 2021 official serial key for barely $12 or less.

The license is used during the installation process to officially activate your software.

Despite Prezi being an incredibly complete software with an intuitive user interface, it can’t replicate all the things you can do with PowerPoint.

Its limited capacity to create a more interactive presentation – besides its zooming user interface – restricts your creativity. However, it has flexibility, and it’s easier to understand thanks to its basic attributes.

On the other hand, the traditional Microsoft PowerPoint slides presentation software is a more complex and complete tool. 

It can solve your immediate and long-term presentation needs. You can either create a highly engaging business presentation or a simple slide to show what you need and go on.